Genesis 36:11

The section called "The generations of Esau" runs from the first verse of Genesis 36 to the first verse of Genesis 37. As with Ishmael and Isaac, so here again. Scripture puts the rejected line first, but keeps it short, and does not follow its dates. The chosen line comes second, and then enough dates are given to let us follow the passing of the years. This foreshadows the principle of God's ways, stated so clearly: "He does away with the first in order to establish the second" (Heb. 10:9).

Here is another genealogy (Gen. 36), and its place in the story is telling. The Edomite line breaks into the course of God's dealings. We see at once how mature this family already was. It is always so — first the natural, afterwards the spiritual. Even then power grows fast in Esau's family. They were all great people, of course — chief this and chief that, right to the end of the chapter. Kings, we are told, even reigned there before there were any in Israel. I have no doubt Scripture gives us this to mark how fast what is not of God shoots up. Growth according to God is slower, but it is more permanent.

Son of Eliphaz, a son of Esau, and a chief of Edom; also his descendants and the district they lived in. It is linked four times with Edom and twice with Dedan, which places it in the south. Scripture speaks of its wisdom, and pronounces God's judgements on it. One of Job's friends was Eliphaz the Temanite.

Teman, spoken of here, was noted for the wisdom of its people. The name means "the right hand," which in Scripture means the south… Teman's wisdom is also a dependent wisdom, and it must be. But it is Edomite, not Israelite. So it is a dependence that belongs to the flesh. The Edomite has no faith in God to keep him steady, and no fixed points to reason from. He is born into a world where he must take much from others. He inherits the thoughts of men, and those thoughts can fail. They are often mistaken, sinful, and able to deceive. Yet men pride themselves on this godless wisdom. It often takes the name of science. But it chooses to ignore God, so it must stay ignorant of where all things come from and how they began.

Some have supposed, from facts that must be looked at in another place, that he was not a member of the tribe by right of birth. This seems to be confirmed by what is said here: he was given a portion among the children of Judah, according to the word of the Lord. Caleb seems to have been of Edomite stock. He was one of those believers from among the Gentiles. We find many prominent examples of them in the history of God's people. Of Caleb our Lord might have said what He said about the Roman centurion: "with no one in Israel have I found such faith."

Esau (Edom) prospers and grows rich in material things. His sons become "chiefs" before Jacob's family reach such honour… Esau's family shows the usual story of the flesh: it always lifts itself up. So the long list of names is there to impress one fact on us. God has taken full account of the flesh and all it does, and finds it only vanity.